Sterilizer for clippers



2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 5. 1927 [ity @vada/2T@ Oct. 7,. 1930.

R. GooDwm STERIJIZER FOR GLIPPERS med Maren s, 1927 2 Sheets-Shut 2 Patented Oct. 7, 1930 earnnr oFricE ROY GOODWIN; or WILMETTE, ILLINOIS i* STERILIZER FOR. oLIPPER-s Y Application filed March 5,

My inve-ntion relates to steriliZerS, being more particularly concernedfvvith the provision of asterilizer especially adapted to be used in barber shops for hair clippers.

`One of the'objei'cts of my invention is the provision of asterilizer for hair clippers having means for the removal of foreign matter i from theclipper, such as hair, dandruff, etc.

by the act of the insertion of the clipper' in vthe sterilizer. ,Y

`Anotherobjj ect of` my invention is the provision of a sterilizer of the 'class described, y including positive means to assure this cleans ing operation during the insertion of the clipjper, means for providing a sterilizing atmosphere Within the sterilizer, means for indi-` catingthe operation of the sterilizer during a predetermined period V.of time, and means responsivetoV the insertion of. a clipperfor actuating said indicating means and for vaporizing a sterilizing fluid. v

Other ob'ectsand advantages of my invention will appear more fully from the following description. and from the accompanying drawings in VwhichA similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Fi `1 is an elevational *view in partial cross-section showing my sterilizer ;v -Fg f2 is` an elevational longitudinal Vcrosssectio'nal view of the same gl Fig. 3 is a plan view in partial cross-section takenon theline 3*.3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a diagram of the electrical circuits f V,employed in my sterilizer. i

Referring'to F'g. 1,. 10 indicates in its en tirety my sterilizer which may be vprovided upon its base with a ferrule 11 adapted to re-v ceive a projecting boss kupon the motor stand 12 usually employed in-barber'shops for sup`- porting the motor of an lautomatic hair clipper. In order to provide a motor support,l the base 13 of-my sterilizer may be Aprovided with a hook 44 upon which the Amotorof the automatic sterilizer may bei supported. The

1927. serial No. 173,147.

hook 44 comprises `a short piece of Wire bent in the conformation Vshown, and fixed tothe base 13 by solder or other convenient fastening means. Y y 1 l 1 My sterilizer.comprises a closed receptacle which may consist of a flat base 13 of substantially' the outline shown in Fig. 3, having one end upwardly bent as at 14 to form a sloping end vvall for the same.

The base 13 may be provided at its edges With a reinforcing Wire 15 supported upon said base by turning the extreme edges of said l base about said Wire, forming a substantially circular bead 16 along each edge. The supporting ferrule 11 may be soldered orother- Wise permanently fixed to the base 18, being preferably substantially Vcentrally located so as to support the sterilizer `in a balanced poV The upper framework of the sterilizer 1() may consist of a `substantially semi-circular strip of metal 17 having its edges 18 and `19 flanged over to reinforce the same and to provide a rounded edge. The strip 17 is preferably of substantially rectangular shape at its forward end 20 as shown in Fig. 1, While the rear end as shown in Fig. 2, has a projecting triangular portion 26 which reaches backl to the sloping portion 14 of the base and is fixed thereto by solder or other permanent l fastening means to form that side of the con-` j tainer. The triangular portion Q6 terminates at straight edge 27 which is adapted to pivi otally support a cover further to be described.

The stri p 17 may be secured to the base 13 by riveting. soldering or otherwise permanently afiixing its ends 2O tothe opposite side of the base-13, at an intermediate position inside the beadlo. The framework 14 is provided uponV its inside with a plurality of small metal clips 21 comprising short strips ofsheet metalhaving` two bends at right angles to form a flat portion 22 and an offset portion The'flat portions 22 of the clips 21 are soldered or, othv ervviso'permanently affixed to the interior :of

the frame piece 17 after the manner shown tration shown the end of the sterilizer base 13 is substantially circular. Hence the cover has its end formed like a port-ion of the surface of a sphere, the other end approaching the shape of a portion of a cylinder and being adapted to fit within the edge 19 of the frame piece 17 to completely close the end of the sterilizer.

In order to close the left end of the sterilizer t-he curved wall 26 pivotally supports a curved cover plate 28 of substantially triangular form, by means of hinges 29 and it will be observed that the cover plate 28 is curved to fit along the edges of the beads 16 and the flanged edge 18, thereby providing a closure for this end of the container. The cover 28 may likewise be provided with a crimped edge to provide a rounded edge andwith a knob or handle 31 for the purpose of facilitating the opening of this member.

My sterilizer is adapted to be used with clippers of all kinds, including' manual clippers, but for the purpose of adapting the same to be used with automatic clippers, the base 14 is preferably provided with an aperture 32 through which the shaft 33 of the automatic clipper may extend when the clipper is inthe position shown inv Fig. 2. The sterilizer is preferably provided upon the side which is adapted to be closed by the coverv 28 with a pair of brushes 34 and having opposed bristles 36 through which the clipper is passed during its insertion intoV the sterilizer for the purpose of removing foreign matter from 4the clipper, such as hair, dandrufl, etc. The brushes 34 and 35 are so located that they do not interfere with the complete closure of the sterilizer by means of the cover 28 and although the brushes shown consist of bristles supported between a plurality of twisted wires, it will be obvious that brushes of different structure may be substituted. The Ybrushes 34 and 35 supported uponv the wires 37 may be conveniently aliixed within the casing by soldering the lower ends 38 of the wires to the framework adjacent the bead 16.

In order to assure the insertion of the clipper into the sterilizer in the manner contemplated so that the foreign matter will be removed therefrom by the brushes, my sterilizer may be provided with an Vauxiliary cover member 39 comprising a substantially rectangular piece of sheet metal having one corner out away 'as at 40 and having an upwardly extending flange 41 pivotally supported upon the frame of the sterilizer by the hinge 42. The auxiliary cover 39 in its normal position may rest with its end against the sloping base 14 and the slot 43 provided between the base and the cover should be of such size that it will readily permit the insertion of the shank or shaft 33 of the clipper in a lateral direction as shown by the arrow in Fig. 3 but will not permit the insertion of the clipper from above. It will thus be observed that the auxiliary cover 39 will permit the insertion of the clipper through the brushes 34 and 35 and upon removal of the clipper it may be drawn upward, pivotally opening the auxiliary cover 39 by contact with the lower portion of the clipper. During this operation the cover 28 is of course opened by means of the knob 31 after which it should be reclosed. After the clipper has been removed, the cover 39 will drop againto the position shown in Fig. 2 after which the sterilizer is again ready to receive a clipper to be sterilized.

The sterilizer 10 is provided in its interior with a reservoir 45 consisting of a small sheet metal receptacle affixed tothe base 1-3, and the reservoir 45 is adapted to receive a sterilizing liquid 46 such as carbon tetrachloride or any germicide which is adapted to provide a sterilizing atmosphere when evaporated. The base 47 of the reservoir 45 may be extended to form a hinge 48 for pivotally supporting a table 49 consisting of a sheet metal strip having upwardly turned lateral flanges 50, to insure the location of the clipper upon said table. The base 47 may be provided with upwardly turned flanges 51 either one of which may support an electrical contact 52 by means of a screw bolt 53, insulating washers being interposed between said contact and the flange 51 so that the contact is insulated from the framework of the sterilizer. The table 49 is normally spaced from the 'contact 52 by means of the compression spring 54, but when the clipper 55 is ink the position shown in Fig. 2, the table 49 is depressed by the weight of the clipper 55 to make electrical contact with the contact 52.

The base 13 supports at one end adjacent the reservoir 45 an electric light socket comprising a threaded metallic ferrule 57 having an insulated central contact 58 which is in f conducting relation with the base 13 of the of heat to gradually evaporate the sterilizing fluid 56 and to maintain a sterilizing atmosphere within the receptacle. In order to provide means for receiving the radiant heat energy from the vbulb`59 and transmitting the same to the fluid 46, the reservoir by solder `or yother' convenient fastening` means. p

The visual indication given by the incan descent bulb 59 is preferably operated only for a predetermined length of time in order 1to show that the sterilizer is operating and to provide sutii'cient heat to evaporate a portion of the sterilizing fluid 46 sufficient to supply the losses of sterilizingatmosphere due to the opening ofthe cover 28. l have therefore provided an automatic thermostatic *switch comprising an insulating base 60 which supports a pair of strips of metal 61 and 62 having a'high coeiiicient of thermal expansion. The strips 61 and 62 may b e of Vbrass or other metal having a high coetlicient of thermal expansion.

The strips 61 and 62 are supported at one end upon the projecting lugl 63 of the base by a screw bolt 64 passing through said lu g and through both strips and holding these ends in fixed relation. The opposite ends of the strips 61 and 62 are bent towards each other and held in fixed relation by a rivet 65 or other permanent fastening means permit ting no sliding motion between these strips. The base 60 is also provided with an upward ly projecting lug 66 having a metallic strip 67 supported thereon by means ofa screw bolt 68 which may also serve as connector. The strip 67 also provides a threaded support foran adjustable contact 69 comprising a screw bolt passing through said strip and provided with a lock nut 70 to hold the same in adjusted position.

In order to provide thermal means for actuating the thermostat, the brass strip 62 is wound with a heating coil 71 comprising a plurality of turns of insulated wire having a high electrical resistance and adapted to heat the strip 62 when the circuit is closed through the contact 52, and the circuits employed in my sterilizer are as follows: The sterilizer may be provided with a fiexible connecting cord comprising two conductors 72 and 73 terminating in an ordinary screw plug connector and one conductor 73 may be connect ed directly with the contact `52. observed that as the metallic table 49 is piv- Y otedndirectly upon the metallic base 13, this table is grounded upon the sterilizer as shown at 74. The other conductor 72 may be ci;- tended to the bolt 64 to which it may be fastened, being placed in electrical connection with said bolt, the strips 61 and 62 and the resistance coil 71. lThe other end of the resistance coil 71 Vis connected by a conductor 75 to the metallic portion of the sterilizer, being grounded as at 76. The strips 61 and 62 are normally in contact with the adjustable contact 69 and the adjustable contact It will be 69 is `connected by means ofthe conductor 77 to the threaded ferrule 57 representing one end of the filament 78 of the incandescent bulb 59. .The central conductor 58 of the socket 57 representing the opposite end of the readily be modified to provide a system in-Y sulated from the sterilizer by providing a second insulated contact upon the table 49 and' by insulating the points 7 4, 76 and7 9 from the sterilized connecting them by a common conductor.

The operation of my sterilizer is as follows: The strips 61 and 62 are normally in contact withy the contact 69 but when no clip per is within the sterilizer, the` table 49 will be maintained in spaced relation to the contact 52 by means of a spring 54 thereby breaking the circuit at 52. Then the operator has finished using a clipper he may open the sterilizer at the cover 28 by means of the knob 31 and with his other hand insert the clipper 55 with a lateral motion, the brushes 34 and 35 brusliingthe hair, dandruff and otherV foreign material from the knives and other parts of the clipper. The limited size of the slot 43 assures the insertion of the clipper with such a lateral motionand the shank of' the clipper or the flexible shaft by which it is actuated may be located within the slot 32, the end ofthe clipper resting upon the table 49. The cover '28 may then be closed about the shaft of the clipper, completely closing the sterilizer. y

The weight of the clipper 55 upon the table 49 compresses the spring 54, closing the contact at 52vand establishing the following cir# cuits: The thermostat heating circuit is established through the conductor 73, Contact 52, table49, ground at 74, ground at 76, conductor 75, heating coil 71, bolt 64 and conductor 72. An indicating and heating circuit is established through conductor7 contact 52 table 49, ground 74, ground 79, filament 78, conductor 77, contactl 69, strips 61 and 62, bolt 64 andconductor 72.

As a result, when the clipper is placed upon the table 49 the lamp 59 will be lighted, giving an indication of the operation of the sterilizer and furnishing a limited amount "1 the expansion of the strip 62 Will cause the thermostat to deflect toward the left in Fig.

4, breakingthe electricalcircuit at the contact 69. The lamp will then be extinguished but the circuit through the heating coil T1 will continue maintaining the thermostat in circuit breaking relation. It should be noted that the heating coil 7l is of considerable resistance so that the consumption of current by this Ydevice is negligible. Upon the removal of the clipper from the sterilizer, the circuit will again be broken at the contact 52 and the thermostat formed by the strips 6l and G2 will cool and ieturn to its normal position against the contact 69.

It will thus be observed that I have provided a sterilizer for hair clippers including wish to be limited to the precise details ofV construction setforth. but desire to avail inyself of all changes Within the scope of thc appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is nenT and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In a sterilizcr for hair clippers, the coinbination of a receptacle, means for support- Ying said receptacle upon a motor stand, said receptacle having an opening for the insertion of a clipper, a reservoir in said receptacle, a stcrilizing fluid in said rcseiwf'oir, means for evaporatingsaid fluid, means responsive' to tlieinser `ion of a clipper to act-uate said evaporating means, and incansfor indicating the operation of said stciilizcr for a predetermined period of time. Y

2. In a stci'ilizer-for hair clippers, the coinbinatioi'i of a receptacle having an opening for the insertion of a clipper, brushes located to remove the foreign matter from said clipper during its insertion through said opening, a Yswitch actuated by the placingof a clipper in said receptacle, a sterilizing fluid in said receptacle, and a heater actuated by n said switch.

In a sterilizer for hair clippers, the coni- `bination of aI receptacle having an opening for the insertion of a clipper, brushes located to remove the foreign matter from said clipper during its insertion through said opening, a switch actuatedbv the placing of a clipper in said receptacle, a sterilizing fluid in'said receptacle, a heater actuatedby said switch, an electric lamp actuated byV said switch, and a thermostat actuated by said heater to de=energize said lamp.

also. includes ll. In a sterilizer foi' hair clippers, the combination of a receptacle having an opening for the insertion of a clipper, With. a`

reservoir in said receptacle, ra sterilizing Huid 1n said reservoir, means for evaporating said fluid, and means responsive to the insertion Vof a clipper to actuate said evaporating means.

ln Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe rmy name this 2nd day of March., 1927.

ROY GOODVIN. 

